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The Progspace Awards 2022

Danefae – Trøst

Danefae – Trøst

Danefae - Trøst

  • Rating: 7/10
  • Release Date: 31 January, 2025
  • Label: Danefae
  • Musicians:
    Anne Olesen: Vocals & piano
    Anders Mogensen: Guitar
    Carl Emil Tofte Jensen: Bass
    Jonas Agerskov: Drums
    Guest appearances:
    Anders Øster: Keys (track 3)
    Signe Laugesen: Vocals (Track 2 & 4)
    Andrea Hindkjær Andersen: Vocals (Track 2 & 4)
    Andreas Dahl-Blumenberg: Vocals (track 5)
    Ole Olesen: Vocals (Track 5)
  • Favorite songs:
    Vaetter, P.S. Far er død, Sang om Håb
  • For Fans of:
    Meer, Scarlet Stories, Golden Caves

With their second album, Danish metal band Danefae have dished up a fusion of progressive metal and traditional Nordic musical traditions. In short, it’s progressive metal with Danish lyrics. The album has a title of “Trøst” which translates as Solace and the songs are personal stories inspired by folk legends.

Danefae began as vocalist Anne Oleson’s solo project in 2017, with the three other members joining later. In 2022 they released their debut album ‘Tro’ (believe), and it took a few years to hone their perfect style. The result can be heard three years later, on this new and heavier album. It’s difficult to tell exactly what the songs are about, although translation of the titles helps a bit. What we do know is that the subjects are serious, dealing with things we all experience.

Weaved into the Danish literature and ancient myths are feelings such as loss, persecution and fate along with topics like sleeplessness and anxiety. The opening track ‘Fuglekongen’ translates as ‘The Bird King’. The soft lilting chords and vocals remind me of bands such as Scarlet Stories. As the song progresses it gradually gets heavier and the fact that the lyrics are in Danish is forgotten.

There are guest vocals on ‘Vætter’ (Wights) from Signe Laugesen and Andrea Hindkjær Andersen. These come in the form of harmonies and in the catchy choruses. The song is partly written in old Danish, with the help of linguist Simon Skovgaard Boeck, and concerns ancient superstitions. Reflecting this by creating an atmospheric ambience, Anne’s piano playing weaves a light and airy backdrop. This is punctuated by heavier intersections of guitar from Anders Mogensen, bass from Carl Emil Tofte Jensen, and drums from Jonas Agerskov.

Nature plays a part in some of the compositions, ‘Natsværme’ for instance means Moth in Danish. It recalls one of Anne’s experiences as a child. It is a memory of waking from a nightmare and going to the lit hallway where there would be moths on the window. Like her they were seeking comfort and warmth from the light. The track features Anders Øster on keyboards.

‘Vandskabt’ which Google translated for me as ‘Water-swept’ brings in another aspect of nature. The cover artwork by Sissel Geyti also portrays elements of the natural world. Signe Laugesen and Andrea Hindkjær Andersen once again feature as guest vocalists in an atmospheric number which changes throughout. A rumbling sound fades in to be replaced by crunching chords, then soft sweet vocals with a subtle backing. Slowly it builds to a heavier finish.

Grief plays a part in ‘P.S. Far er død’ (P.S. Father is dead.) Concerning death and running out at over 12 minutes long, it was the hardest song for the band to write. Regardless, it was one they wanted to create, describing it as being like a mountain they wanted to climb. Two more guest vocalists feature on this track, namely Andreas Dahl-Blumenberg (Feather Mountain) and Ole Olesen (brother of Anne perhaps?). Multiple sections of varying tempo and style weave in and out of each other. Resulting in guitar solos, piano from Anne, powerful choruses, and some Nordic influences.

Photo Credit – Lucas Illanes

The title track ‘Trøst’ is instrumental and the shortest track on the album. The guitarists Anders Mogensen and Carl Emil Tofte Jensen (bass) handle this one with an echo-tinged rendition that is relaxing. Following that interlude things get heavier again in ‘Blind’ which compares the behaviour of ants to the trap that humans sometimes fall into. Apart from a few softer intervals it is relentless and is one the heavier songs on the album.

To finish something completely different, ‘Sang om Håb’ starts with hand clapping similar to Novena. In fact, it bears quite a resemblance to that band’s track ‘Corazón’ switching from one style to another and one extreme to the other. The title translates as ‘Song of Hope’, and it is a strong and unusual finish.

If you are not a fan of extreme music, blast beats and guttural vocals, you may find solace here. It’s mellow and ethereal for the most part, but occasionally heavier which places them at the softer end of the progressive metal genre. It will be interesting to see if they continue to use the styles on this album or move on. Whatever they decide, they are another band to look out for.

Track list:

  1. Fuglekongen
  2. Vætter
  3. Natsværmer
  4. Vandskabt
  5. P.S. Far er død
  6. Trøst
  7. Blind
  8. Sang om Håb

About the Author

Bob

I’m Bob, I hail from Robin Hood country (Nottinghamshire) in the UK. Rock and Metal music has played a big part in my life for many years. From playing guitar in local bands, to attending dozens of Festivals and countless concerts. I have been taking photos at gigs (whenever possible) for a number of years now, and as the camera gear has got better so have the photos. I continue to seek out new Bands and tend to prefer the more technical and heavy stuff these days. I live with my wife Sarah, who fortunately likes the heavy bands as well, and our cats who have to listen to it, whether they like it or not. Apart from gigs and photography (not just concerts) I also enjoy hill walking, films and discovering new beers (and drinking them).

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